Rishon Lezion Municipality Sues Israel Land Authority for 24 Million Shekels Over Development Fees
The Rishon Lezion Municipality has filed a lawsuit against the Israel Land Authority (ILA) demanding approximately 24 million shekels in unpaid development fees related to the "Drone Airfield" area in the western part of the city. The claim, registered as case 93226-06-26, was submitted to the Central Lod District Court and concerns a civilian light aviation airfield near the Mevo Ayalon interchange in the Rishon Lezion sand dunes region.
According to the municipality, the ILA owns the land known as Block 3946, parts of parcels 361 and 485, which make up the "Drone Airfield" site within Rishon Lezion's jurisdiction. In 2021, the municipality conducted a property survey that included these lands and found extensive development work had been carried out nearby, such as road paving and sidewalk construction. These improvements, under municipal bylaws, require payment of development levies, which the municipality claims the ILA has not paid.
The municipality further alleges that measurements revealed unauthorized construction additions on the site, built without proper permits and also unpaid for in development fees. Despite repeated payment demands and warning letters sent to the ILA, the debts remain unsettled. Since no administrative petition was filed against the payment demands within the legal timeframe, the charges have become final and binding.
The municipality states that the initial payment demands for road and sidewalk levies amounted to about 14.5 million shekels at issuance, excluding interest and linkage increments. Including these financial additions, the total claim now stands at roughly 24 million shekels. Attempts at negotiation were exhausted before the municipality resorted to legal action. The Israel Land Authority has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
This case highlights ongoing disputes over development fees in municipal jurisdictions and the enforcement of payment obligations by state land authorities.
